Iphicles' Oxen

Quid hoc ad Iphicli boves? What has that to do with the subject in
hand? So in L'Avocat the judge had to pull up the shepherd every
minute with the question, “Mais, mon ami, revenon à nos moutons.” Iphiclos or Iphicles was the possessor of large herds of oxen, and
Neleus (2 syl.) promised to give his daughter in marriage to Bias if he
would bring him the oxen of Iphicles, which were guarded by a very
fierce dog. Melampos contrived to obtain the oxen for his brother, but
being caught in the act, he was cast into prison. Melampos afterwards
told Astyocha, wife of Iphicles, how to become the mother of children,
whereupon Iphicles gave him the coveted herd, and his brother married
the daughter of Neleus. The secret told by Melampos to Astyocha was “to steep the rust of iron in wine for ten days, and drink it.” This she
did, and became the mother of eight sons.